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BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to traditional protein sources, driven by population growth, underscores the importance of protein in a healthy diet. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) nuts are currently underutilized as plant‐based proteins but hold great potential in the food industry. However, there is insufficient information available on pecan protein, particularly its protein fractions. This study aimed to explore the physicochemical and functional properties of protein isolate and the main protein fraction glutelin extracted from pecan nuts.The results revealed that glutelin (820.67 ± 69.42 g kg−1) had a higher crude protein content compared to the protein isolate (618.43 ± 27.35 g kg−1), while both proteins exhibited amino acid profiles sufficient for adult requirements. The isoelectric points of protein isolate and glutelin were determined to be pH 4.0 and pH 5.0, respectively. The denaturation temperature of the protein isolate (90.23 °C) was higher than that of glutelin (87.43 °C), indicating a more organized and stable conformation. This is further supported by the fact that the protein isolate had a more stable main secondary structure than glutelin. Both proteins demonstrated improved solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties at pH levels deviating from their isoelectric points in U‐shaped curves. Compared to the protein isolate, glutelin displayed superior water and oil absorption capacity along with enhanced gelling ability.The protein isolate and glutelin from pecan nuts exhibited improved stability and competitive functional properties, respectively. The appropriate utilization of these two proteins will support their potential as natural ingredients in various food systems. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia oleifera seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and has various nutraceutical and health benefits, but the application of it is hindered by inappropriate processing methods. In this work, we developed an efficient procedure for preparing high quality Camellia oleifera seed oil using enzymatic extraction and demulsification. Through the screening of enzyme types, acid protease was found to be the optimal enzyme for extraction, resulting in a clear oil yield of 66.94±0.70% under the optimized conditions determined by using response surface methodology (RSM). In order to address the issue of excessive emulsion formation during enzymatic extraction, enzymatic demulsification was utilized to recover the clear oil from the emulsion layer. After successively addition of medium temperature α-amylase and acid protease under the optimized conditions, a demulsification rate of up to 74.31±0.27% and a clear oil yield of 16.01% were obtained. Therefore, a total clear oil yield of 82.95% was achieved. Finally, the quality indexes of three clear oil samples were analyzed, and all of them attained level one of Chinese National Standard GB/T 11765–2018. These results demonstrate the efficient preparation of high-quality Camellia oleifera seed oil by full enzymatic extraction and demulsification. It provides valuable theoretical guidance for the environmentally friendly extraction of Camellia oleifera seed oil, with potential applications in its production. [Display omitted] • A two-step enzymatic method was established to produce Camellia oleifera seed oil. • The oil in the emulsion layer was recovered through enzymatic demulsification. • The enzymatic extraction and demulsification achieved a clear oil yield of 82.95%. • The clear oil obtained in this work met the level one standards of GB/T 11765–2018. • The procedure in this work is simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercus gilva , an evergreen tree species in Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis , is an ecologically and economically valuable species in subtropical regions of East Asia. Predicting the impact of climate change on potential distribution of Q. gilva can provide a scientific basis for the conservation and utilization of its genetic resources, as well as for afforestation. In this study, 74 distribution records of Q. gilva and nine climate variables were obtained after data collection and processing. Current climate data downloaded from WorldClim and future climate data predicted by four future climate scenarios (2040s SSP1-2.6, 2040s SSP5-8.5, 2060s SSP1-2.6, and 2060s SSP5-8.5) mainly based on greenhouse gases emissions of distribution sites were used in MaxEnt model with optimized parameters to predict distribution dynamics of Q. gilva and its response to climate change. The results showed that the predicted current distribution was consistent with natural distribution of Q. gilva , which was mainly located in Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guizhou, and Taiwan provinces of China, as well as Japan and Jeju Island of South Korea. Under current climate conditions, precipitation factors played a more significant role than temperature factors on distribution of Q. gilva , and precipitation of driest quarter (BIO17) is the most important restriction factor for its current distribution (contribution rate of 57.35%). Under future climate conditions, mean temperature of driest quarter (BIO9) was the essential climate factor affecting future change in potential distribution of Q. gilva. As the degree of climatic anomaly increased in the future, the total area of predicted distribution of Q. gilva showed a shrinking trend (decreased by 12.24%–45.21%) and Q. gilva would migrate to high altitudes and latitudes. The research results illustrated potential distribution range and suitable climate conditions of Q. gilva , which can provide essential theoretical references for the conservation, development, and utilization of Q. gilva and other related species. • Future climate data predicted based on GHGs emission were used in SDM of Q. gilva. • BIO17 was the most important restriction factor for Q. gilva 's current distribution. • BIO9 would be the essential factor affecting Q. gilva 's future potential distribution change. • As the degree of climatic anomaly increases, Q. gilva 's distribution tends to shrink. • Northward migration of Q. gilva was accompanied by a shift to the south in 2040s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of the pectin homogalacturonan (HG) integrity and remodeling into defense immunity facilitates building blocks of stress resilience within the host and pathogen interactions in the forests. Recent advances in apoplastic pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and coordinated PME inhibitors (PMEIs) deployed immune signaling, highlighting their critical roles in regulating biotic stress adaptation. Nevertheless, the PME and PMEI multiple isoenzyme families involved in defense priming in the model tree species are largely unknown. The in silico demonstration of the molecular profile identified 70 PME- (50 type-I proPME and 20 type-II PME) and 49 PMEI-encoding genes in the Populus genome. Evaluation of the transcript abundance verified 20 PtproPMEs and 18 PtPMEIs that showed predominant expression in the root and genetic redundancy for type-II PtPMEs. Dynamic changes in the transcriptome and experimental evaluation revealed a minuscule number of type-I proPMEs and PMEIs that showed marked promotions during a time-course Fusarium solani (Fs) infection. Using GC/LC-mass-based non-targeted metabolomics to inspect structure-related carbohydrates and PME activities suggested a correlation between proPME - PMEI co-expression and deformed pectin HG biosynthesis. Further functional examination of the enzyme inhibitory affinities of recombinant PtPMEI1 and 39 in vitro and apoplastic patterns suggested a clustering of the type-I proPME in the regulation of the innate immunity by maintaining homeostasis of the pectin HG de-methylesterification (DME) in the cell wall. The coherent omics-wide survey of the fungi pathogen-induced PME-PMEIs and disturbed carbohydrate accumulation provide theoretical cues for in-depth mining of the biological significance of the underlying immune signaling networks within an apoplastic niche in trees. • Molecular dissection of Populus PME/PMEI families. • ProPME-PMEI were co-induced upon F. solani infection. • PtPMEI1 and 39 hinted defense immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Yellowhorn germplasms showed relatively high genetic diversity. • The core germplasms represent the diversity of the original collected germplasms. • Core and original germplasm are similar in terms of physiological traits. • Core germplasm of yellowhorn represents the original germplasm. Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge) is an important ecological, economic, and ornamental plant species native to China. However, the physiological diversity, genetic variation, and core germplasms have not been revealed, which hindered the breeding process of yellowhorn. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 155 yellowhorn germplasms using five physiological traits. The content of flavonoids varied significantly in different germplasms, and it was positively correlated with soluble sugar content (P < 0.01). A total of 253, 336 candidate SSR were identified from the whole genome of yellowhorn. A moderate genetic diversity was found in yellowhorn based on the mean values of the number of effective alleles (N e = 2.307), expected heterozygosity (H e = 0.527), and observed heterozygosity (H o = 0.317) with 30 pairs of polymorphic SSR markers. Population structure, Neighbor-Joining phylogeny, and principal coordinates analyses divided all genotypes into two major groups with few admixtures. Meanwhile, we extracted 34 (21.94 %) core yellowhorn germplasms based on the variation in physiological traits (14 germplasms) and genetic diversity (23 germplasms). After multiple different analyses including genetic diversity parameters, coincidence rate of range, variance difference percentage, and coefficient of variation rate of change, there was no obvious difference between core and original germplasm, which indicated that the core germplasm could represent the original germplasm well. Our study will lay a solid foundation for future conservation and management of yellowhorn germplasms and the core collection will be valuable in molecular breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginkgo biloba seeds contain a variety of nutritional and functional components and have high edible and medicinal effects, making them one of the famous food and medicine homologous materials. But G. biloba seeds also contain some harmful ingredients, which have severely restricted the healthy development of the G. biloba seed food industry. Overconsumption of G. biloba seeds can lead to food poisoning. Ginkgotoxin (4′-O-methylpyridoxine, MPN) and ginkgotoxin-5′-glucoside (4′-O-methylpyridoxine-5′-glucoside, MPNG) are the main toxic ingredients of G. biloba seeds and have been studied intensively. This work tries to comprehensively summarize the research status of MPN and MPNG (collectively known as ginkgotoxins), building the scientific basis for further research on ginkgotoxins, with the aspiration to promote the healthy development of the G. biloba seed food industry. In this review, the isolation, identification, extraction, and detection of ginkgotoxins are first introduced. Then, the synthesis and distribution of ginkgotoxins are described and discussed. Finally, the methods used for removing ginkgotoxins and the effects of processing on the ginkgotoxins are analyzed and compared. Reducing ginkgotoxins while preserving the nutritional and functional components of G. biloba seed foods will undoubtedly be a pressing issue in further research. [Display omitted] • Ginkgo biloba seeds contain a variety of nutritional and functional components. • Overconsumption of Ginkgo biloba seeds leads to poisoning. • Ginkgotoxin and ginkgotoxin-5′-glucoside is responsible for Ginkgo biloba seeds poisoning. • MPN and MPNG can be completely removed by some physical and biotechnological methods. • Food processing techniques can only reduce toxicity to a limited extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]